John Tse from I Build Stuff upgraded his remote controlled flying umbrella into a fully handsfree, autonomous device that shields users from rain and sun. Designed like a regular umbrella, it hides a four-propeller quadcopter drone system beneath its surface.
To avoid a bulky design, he created 3D printed folding arms made of durable carbon-fiber nylon, which lock firmly into place using hinges and rubber bands to minimize shaking during flight.
To track users automatically, the device features a time of flight depth camera that maps the user's position in 3D, even in low light. A Raspberry Pi processes this data to locate the user's head, sending instant coordinates to the flight controller and GPS to keep the umbrella centered.
After a year of overcoming hardware and software failures, the final prototype successfully hovers, follows its user, and operates perfectly in heavy rain.
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